COGENT Coconut news and events

Darwin Initiative for South Pacific Genebank

Darwin initiative "Upgrading and broadening the new International Coconut Genebank for South Pacific"

Overview

During the three years of the project (2016-2019), coconut biodiversity hot-spots defined as at risk will be identified and characterized, and a collection methodology will be developed. The threatened coconuts will be listed for introduction in the International Coconut Genebank (ICG) and in the international Coconut Genetic Resources Database (CGRD), available for future generations of researchers, farmers, consumers and other users.

Objectives

This project aims to characterize those areas of the Pacific where coconut biodiversity is threatened and to ensure its protection by: (i) developing the associated listing, (ii) characterizing its diversity and (iii) if possible, by transferring these resources to the international coconut germplasm collection of the South Pacific, part of the COGENT network, and placed under the protection of the international Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). For more information, please have a look at the inception meeting report.

Countries

Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa

Funding Agency

Description

Initially, the project will identify areas of the Pacific where coconut biodiversity is threatened using geographic information systems combined with climate prediction models or territorial development (urbanization). Secondly, experts will implement process characterization and collection of biodiversity to protect it. The plant material, properly identified and listed, will be transferred to the international collection of the South Pacific. Meanwhile, a team of genetic resources Status specialists will work on the development of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Bioversity International / COGENT, FAO and the three Governments concerned. The team will also prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three countries, allowing them to confidently and actively manage the collection for the Pacific region, while contributing to international coconut germplasm exchange within the network COGENT (www.cogentnetwork.org).

International coconut genebank rescue plan launched in PNG

In May 2013, COGENT launched a bilingual video alerting viewers to a new lethal plant disease called Bogia coconut syndrome (BCS) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This devastating bacterial disease (caused by a phytoplasma) is still spreading (by vectors or via infected planting material) and killing more and more coconut palms, palms of other species like Betel nut, and plants of certain susceptible banana cultivars. Earning PNG around US$740 million a year, the oil palm industry is also keen to know if or how it may be affected.

COGENT's partners

The Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) aims to promote national, regional and global collaboration among coconut-producing countries and partner institutions in the conservation and use of coconut genetic resources for enhanced livelihoods.

The COGENT website is maintained by Bioversity International - Montpellier office.